PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. SENATE; THE CIVIL SERVICE. RIGHTS OF NEGROES. MILITARY RESIGNATIONS. RELIEF OF SETTLERS. THE NATIONAL CURRENCY BILL.

Mr. SUMNER, of Massachusetts, (Union,) introduced a bill to provide for the greater efficiency of the civil service of the United States, which provides for a Board of Examination for candidates for all civil offices or promotion in such offices, except in those appointed by the President. The applicants must be citizens, between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five; and must furnish such testimonials and take such oath of allegiance as the board may prescribe; the work of the applicants to be assigned according to their degree of merit, and vacancies to be filled in precise accordance with such assignment in the department or branch of the service for which the examination was made.

Mr. SUMNER introduced a resolution requesting the President to communicate to the Senate the opinion of the Attorney-General as to the rights of colored persons in the army and elsewhere.

Objected to by Mr. POWELL.

Mr. WILSON, of Massachusetts, (Union,) introduced a joint resolution that no officer of the regular or volunteer force, whose appointment is required to be made by the President by and with the advice of the Senate, and who shall have resigned his commission, and whose resignation shall have been accepted, shall be entitled to hold or exercise command in said forces until again appointed thereto by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Referred to the Military Committee.

Mr. HARDING called up the House bill for the relief of settlers on land claims in California.

Mr. HARDING, of Oregon, (Union,) and Mr. CONNESS defended the bill in reply to Mr. JOHNSON, who contended that the policy of its propositions would be injurious, as it was a direct interference with the action of the judiciary.

Mr. HARLON, of Iowa, (Union,) from the Committee on Public Lands, reported the Senate bill granting lands for a railroad in Minnesota, with the House amendment making the grant directly to the State; and it was passed.

The Senate then took up the special order, viz.:

The amendment of the Senate Committee taxing banks was passed without amendment.

The bill was then reported to the Senate.

The principal amendment of the Senate Finance Committee to the bill as reported is the following to the 41st section of the House bill.

"In lieu of all other taxes, every association shall pay to the Treasurer of the United States in the months of January and July a duty of one-half per centum each half year from and after the 1st day of January, 1864, upon the average amount of its notes in circulation, and a duty of one-quarter of one per centum each half year upon the average amount of its deposits, and a duty of one-quarter of one-half per centum each half year as aforesaid, on the average amount of its capital stock beyond the amount invested in United States bonds." After prescribing the manner of collecting the tax, and affixing a penalty of $200 for each default of payment, it is "provided that nothing in this act shall be construed to prevent the market value of the shares in any of the said associations held by any person or body corporate from being included in the valuation of the personal property of such person or corporation in the assessment of all taxes imposed by or under State authority, for State, county or municipal purposes, but not at a greater rate than is assessed upon other moneyed capital at the hands of individual citizens of such States. And all the remedies provided by the State laws for the collection of such taxes shall be applicable thereto: provided, also, that nothing in this act exempt real estate of the associations from either State, county, or municipal taxes to the same extent, according to its value, as other real estate is taxed."

The Senate then adjourned, finding itself without a quorum.

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A version of this archives appears in print on May 1, 1864, on Page 8 of the New York edition with the headline: PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. SENATE; THE CIVIL SERVICE. RIGHTS OF NEGROES. MILITARY RESIGNATIONS. RELIEF OF SETTLERS. THE NATIONAL CURRENCY BILL. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe